GB Boxing appoints two new full-time coaches

GB Boxing has boosted its performance team with the appointments of Jason Gledhill and Ben Stewart as full-time Podium Coaches.

The duo will primarily focus on leading GB Boxing’s Academy squad but will also support the senior squad as part of the World Class Programme (WCP) for boxing, which is based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Both will report to GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken, and will work alongside existing Podium Coaches Gary Hale, Graham Alderson, Darren Maher, Paul Bennett, and Phil Sellers, as well as the sport science and medical team that support the WCP.

Performance Director Rob McCracken said: “Jason and Ben are excellent additions to GB Boxing’s full-time coaching team. They have both been working in and around the programme for a number of years prior to this appointment, and during that time they have demonstrated the exceptional qualities required to make a positive contribution to all of the boxers they work with, as well as the WCP as a whole.”

Born in Leeds, Jason Gledhill, started boxing aged 10 at St Patrick’s Boxing Club in Leeds. He took a break from boxing at 18 but returned at 22, before eventually making the move into coaching.

He earned his Level 1 and Level 2 coaching badges and, after working at several clubs in the Leeds region, became the head coach at Tigers ABC, growing the team from three to twelve competitive boxers during his tenure.

Gledhill produced regional and national champions at club level, as well as working with England and Great Britain youth teams, where he achieved significant success — most notably being part of the coaching team that helped GB earn three gold medals and a bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

Prior to his full-time role as a Podium Coach, Jason worked regularly as a part-time Performance Coach at GB Boxing since 2017.

Jason said: “I’m over the moon. I’m looking forward to working with the squad, who are all talented. This role is all about nurturing and guiding them in the best way possible to ensure they experience success at whatever level they can reach.

“I’m really enthusiastic about the opportunities in front of us as a team, with the Olympics just under three years away, and I have no doubt the programme can continue to achieve great things on the biggest stages, as it has been doing for a number of years.

“I’ve worked alongside Ben for several years prior to this. We’ve been with Yorkshire and England teams as well as GB, and we’ve been to plenty of competitions together, so we’ve got a strong bond, and I have no doubt that relationship will stand us in good stead as we both begin this new role together.”

Ben Stewart, born in Aldershot, began boxing aged 14 for Berinsfield ABC until he was 19 when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, meaning he was no longer able to compete. After guidance from coaches at grassroots level, he transitioned to coaching, earning his Levels 1 and 2 under then-regional coach and now-retired GB Boxing Podium Coach, Dave Alloway.

Ben then coached for his local region before taking a full-time coaching role with England Talen in 2015 as a National Assistant Coach. During that time, Ben was part of the record-breaking team that won seven gold medals at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games.

In 2018, he was recruited by GB Boxing to work with the British Army Boxing Team as Lead Technical Coach and then Army Boxing Manager, before returning to Sheffield full-time following his recent appointment as one of the new Podium Coaches.

Ben said: “As a boxer you dreamt of going to international tournaments and the Olympics, but I wasn’t good enough and was forced to stop due to medical issues. But to now be helping this country’s greatest talent, develop and reach their full potential at international level is a dream come true.

“Having worked with Academy whilst Bob (Dillon), Graham (Alderson) and Phil (Sellers) were each at the helm, I’ve seen the great work they’ve done and successfully transitioned boxers onto Podium, it’s important Jason and I maintain that momentum, and with the talent coming through I’m sure that will be the case.

“I’m looking forward to working with Jason and all the other coaches; to continue the fantastic work and successes the programme has had over the years. With the boxers on programme now and the talent coming through, I’m excited to see what can be achieved in LA and beyond.”